Baby's First Christmas

We celebrated Christmas this year in Arizona with the Johnsons! Ryan slept through most of his first Christmas, but he did wake up in time to show off his killer good looks:
And his Dad's new present from Aunt Samantha:


But don't worry, he was up first thing the next morning! (This is really what I woke up to every morning, and it would just crack me up...he makes the funniest faces in the morning!)Here's Grandma Johnson doing the two things she loves most....taking pictures and holding babies!
Ryan got lots of love from relatives over the holiday:

Notice how he's sleeping in all the pictures! Everyone is so good at getting him to sleep!

I was sick again on new year's eve, but Seth woke Ryan and I up just in time to welcome in the new year!

Baby Smiles

Yep, we're the parents that take videos of the baby staring at us. And anyone who watches thinks "seriously, nothing happened." BUT, he does smile and flap his arms and legs and as usual, I think he's adorable.

It's awesome.

The incredible shrinking dog

When did this little guy...

Become this little guy?

I could pinch those chubby legs all day.

One Little Word 2010

If you'll remember, I started doing One Little Word last year and liked it so much I'm repeating it!!

Last year my word was Possibility. I laughed as I read my explanation, as just about everything came true!

"I think this year especially, our world is full of possibilities. We may or may not move, get new jobs, quit jobs, uproot, multiply & replenish the earth, become famous, become super poor, get super rich, get discovered, gain weight, lose weight....i mean the possibilities are endless. And I think it will be really nice for me to focus on a "possibility" rather than any sort of "impossibility""

--We still may or may not move :)
--Seth is into getting new jobs!
--I am on Maternity Leave with my job
--Uproot? what's that? ;)
--Well, hello Baby Ryan!
--I am kind of famous since I was Almost in the Kinks backup choir, right?
--Did I mention we're both unemployed right now?
--I did, however, get a GREAT bonus with work.
--Seth did stand up comedy this year and I'm pretty sure that was discovery.
--Gained 60
--Lost 45 (15 to go...then some more!)

In addition to that...there were certainly some impossibilities. I don't think I've said much about this on my blog...but a year ago January we were pregnant and I miscarried. It was pretty devastating, and not something I ever expected. We were fortunate to get pregnant a few weeks after the miscarriage, and now we have Baby Ryan and couldn't feel more blessed. I'm not sure why, but the past few weeks I've been thinking a lot about last year and the range of emotion we've felt through everything. I certainly have a lot of empathy for people who have gone or are going through tough times with getting pregnant, staying pregnant, or who have lost children. While I can't fully understand everything, I certainly care and have very tender heartstrings when it comes to anyone having to deal with such hardship. Mmmm just felt like saying that.

So... Possibility really worked out for us as a 2009 word!

On to 2010. I have been thinking about this for a few weeks, and I think I've finally come to a word....


Balance


Why balance? Well...because it's a struggle for me. It's something I need to learn. I mean, how in the world am I supposed to carry a diaper bag, carseat, stroller, baby, bottle, nursing cover, purse, wallet, credit card, hand sanitizer, and lip balm into a grocery store and still have room (and energy) to shop!? Sigh. Needless to say, this is not an adventure I've been on yet.

All joking aside. Balance in life, balance with family, balance with church callings, balancing my emotions, balancing nutrition, health, and exercise with everything else I need to work on. Balance is also steadiness, finding equilibrium, a means of judging or deciding, "an aesthetically pleasing integration of elements", and last but not least...."an amount in excess especially on the credit side of an account" (seth's going to like that I'm working on having a greater balance in my checking account)

So 2010, let's balance each other out, okay?

Two Months!

Two Months old, and already so grown up!

Baby Ryan, you've got more personality day after day! I still love the way you stretch out after a nap--you pucker your face up and crane your neck to the side in the cutest way. Your fingers are always wrapped around your thumbs, and when you want to self-comfort, you always suck where your thumb would be if it were out, but instead just suck on the circle of your fist. I happen to think it's adorable. Speaking of hands, I cannot figure out how you already have dirt under your fingernails--ALL the time, even after I scrub them! When you're 30 and have the same problem, you better believe your mama is going to tell everyone you were the same way at 2 months old :) You snore like crazy when you're sleeping, but I'm glad because then when I'm worried about you in the middle of the night I don't have to lean over your bassinet anymore, I can just hear that you're alive and kickin'! (Also, you kick your feet up really high in the air when you're sneezing or passing gas, and I love when I'm laying in bed and see them fly up in the air over your bassinet wall. A-dor-a-ble).

Tonight you were sleeping on my chest while I was watching "Gilmore Girls" and like a typical post-pardum hormone filled mom, I burst into tears with the happiness of having you. I love that you calm down when Dad or I hold you, I love that you smile big and coo when we talk to you. I LOVE that you recognize dad from anywhere in the room and crane your neck to find him. I especially love it when during your 3 AM feeding you stop eating to give me a big ole smile--I know you're just saying thanks, and you are definitely welcome! :)

I love you Baby Boy!

Baby Ryan's Blessing: Preview

Okay, just one because he's so cute.
Also, he totally posed himself. Watch out, modeling world!

My Brest Frenemy

Oh boy. I am still working on getting everything uploaded with pictures from our fun weekend with family and Ryan's Baby Blessing (which was amazing), but here's what we've been up to instead:

In brief, within the course of about 3 hours last Wednesday evening I got Mastisis again (for the 3rd time in 6 weeks). I had Seth give me a blessing, and then took a shower and tried to lay down, but within an hour we knew we had to do something so we called my OB and were told to go to the emergency room. We arrived at the ER about 3 AM and were sent to the top of the triage and taken straight in.

Dr. Growdon, the doctor who delivered Ryan, was a lifesaver--he pulled through for us be admitted to a private room in the postpardum unit with Seth and the Baby accompanying me.

Apparently we're Johnsons and make sure every moment is a photo op, this is in the ER:


Baby Ryan Doesn't fit as well as he used to in the baby bassinets, this is in our room:


I do not remember this picture being taken, but this is when we were on our way home:

Just keepin' it real, people.

So after 4 long days and nights at the hospital, we're back home and working to maintain the doctor's orders to rest (i'm either in bed or on the couch), recuperate (which I'm taking to mean asking seth for water about every 20 minutes), and stay on track for recovery from what was diagnosed as a "really really really bad continuing Chronic Mastitis" (just sayin'). This one was Staph and several strains of Strep B--we were lucky that the Dr. picked the right antibiotics at the beginning so that we were able to come home so soon (I, however, would like to permanently check in at the hospital until I'm done breastfeeding, those beds are made for it!) Seth is a lifesaver and is playing both mom, dad, housekeeper, in-home chef, and nanny. Our ward has also been super helpful and we're grateful for all the help!

Quick Poll

So....I've been renting a hospital grade pump (medela symphony) since we had the babe, and it's been great, but I need a portable one now!
I'm 99% sold on the Medela Pump in style, but does anyone have any particular advice about it? Like...I want the metro bag one because the pump comes out of the bag...but it's more expensive? and dare we buy a used one if we have all new "personal" parts? is the backpack any better than the shoulder bag?
Our 1% is for an Ameda, that my lactation consultant also recommended as an option. It's about 80 bucks cheaper, and it's kind of cute. But then I couldn't use the rest of my medela stuff with it.
Thoughts in the next 18 hours are appreciated!!! (then I'll take down this post...it's not like i want the world to know all my questions about "pumps"!)

Happy Holidays

We are SOOOO first time parents--the ones who put their baby in stranger Santa's lap before he has any clue what we're doing to him :)


I loved every second of it. Happy Holidays!

One Month Old!

I can't believe my lil' dude is a month old already! Time flies!

Baby Ryan, we love you mostly because you make cute faces and let us dress you up and squish your adorable cheeks. And I love you because you hardly cry and you're really cute when you calm down if you do cry. You might be a little piranha when you're hungry, but I'll look past that and just be happy when you make your little circle "o" face, your cute little kisses face, and your big smiles when dad is making silly faces at you. I love your eyebrows and all the expressions they make--your surprised face just started this week, and we're loving it.

Happy One Month Birthday, Baby Ryan!